Is It Safe To Cook Frozen Chicken Without Thawing It?

The best ways to cook frozen chicken

One of the quickest and most effective methods for cooking frozen chicken is by using an Instant Pot. To do this, simply place the frozen chicken in the pressure cooker along with chicken broth or water and your choice of seasonings. Cook it on high for 10 to 12 minutes, then allow the pressure to release naturally. Overall, this method takes about 30 minutes to prepare frozen chicken.

Another option is to bake frozen chicken while keeping it moist. You can achieve this by adding liquid or sauce, or by wrapping it in parchment paper. Adding liquid or sauce introduces extra moisture, preventing the chicken from drying out and becoming tough during cooking. This could be anything from broth to soups or even condiments like mustard. Similarly, cooking frozen chicken in parchment paper helps retain moisture by effectively steaming the meat in its own juices, resulting in tender, juicy, and flavorful chicken without needing additional moisture.

While it's possible to cook frozen chicken in a pan, there's a greater risk of it drying out unless you include some sauce or broth. Therefore, similar to baking, it's advisable to add a bit of extra moisture.

One method to avoid is using a slow cooker, as the USDA recommends that meat and poultry should always be thawed before cooking. This is important because as the chicken thaws in the slow cooker's heat, it may remain in the "danger zone" for too long, allowing harmful bacteria to multiply. Although these bacteria are likely to be killed once the chicken reaches a safe temperature, it's always best to err on the side of caution, especially with concerns like salmonella!